Released as part of Macallan’s ever-wonderful Sherry Oak range comes this 12 Year Old. It has spent its entire maturation in sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez, and is bottled at 40% ABV after its 12 years of ageing. It’s full of all those hallmark dried fruit and marmalade notes we’ve come to know and love from a sherried Macallan.
Crisp and sweet. There are notes of sultanas and fresh apple blossom. There is a defined floral note followed by Sherry hints. Calvados emerges with a tropical fruit note and golden syrup.
Medium-body and quite firm. There are notes of hot pastries and marmalade, sultanas and peels with a developing sweetness from the barley sugar.
Good length with a solid oaked note
I'm new to the single malt scene. I'm finding my palate more suited to non -prated speysiders at this point. I like the sherry nose and finish and have had satisfactory experiences with balvenie 12 doublewood, glenfiddich malt masters edition, and aberlour abunadh. I just tried a dram of the macallan 12 at a local pub and was glad I did not spring for a bottle. It had an odd,off puting element that was diminished with the addition of water, but never quite went away.
I suspect that may of "All those who say it is over rated" DO know about whisky. The fact that celebrities drink this says more about marketing than anything else. It's a perfectly ok whisky (no "e", thanks, since this is Scotland), but it is a shadow of the 90s bottles and too often is slightly sulfured. If you get a bottle that's been open a bit, the sulfur may have blown off and it's then quite palatable. For serious traditional sherry cask, go for Glendronach. If you have vintage bottles, save them so that one day you can show newbies how Mac used to taste.
Always a pleasure to have a Macallan
I have been drinking ths single malt for 5 years. All those who say it is over rated don't kow much about whiskey or its history or the fine people including celebrities that have it as one of their favourates. I happen to enjoy the likes of Tslisker, Glenlivit, Dalwhinie etc. To new comers, this is it in the world of the blessed waters.
I got spiced maple sugar for the nose, and a touch of wood on the palate. Overall, I'd say it's light and sweet, with less body than the MoM Speyside Single Malt. Certainly drinkable, but not my first choice.
